Lindall's Milton
An introduction to the annnual recitation by artist Terrance Lindall of Milton's Paradise Lost which includes a display of the original illustrations.
TERRANCE LINDALL RECITES
PASSAGES FROM JOHN MILTON?S
PARADISE LOST AND DISPLAYS ORIGINAL
ILLUSTRATIONS at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center
A commentary about Lindall's presentation by Arnold Walfred III:
Epics have been around with us from the beginning of recorded history. They usually involve heroes of prodigious courage and abilities who overcome impossible odds. Sometimes they are tragic characters, as is the case with Satan in Milton?s Paradise Lost. Satan's fall springs out of his own love of God and a desire to be loved...the desire of a son to be loved by his father. He was once the foremost of God?s archangels and commanded the legions, until one day God announced that there would be another to take Satan's place as second to God.
?Satan, with envy against the Son of God, could not bear through pride that sight and thought himself impaired. Deep malice thence conceiving, he resolved with all hs legions to dislodge the Throne Supreme.? Raphael in Milton?s Paradise Lost
The question arises, was it a desire for love, or was it merely damaged pride that caused the fall from Grace. It could be either. It will be for you to determine. Reasoning out the proof of Satan's ultimate nature as depicted by Milton is a task which has enthralled scholars for hundreds of years!
What epics reveal to us are heroic figures who often bear traits which we ourselves possess, sometimes noble, sometimes flawed...in this tragic case, traits of envy or jealosy, overweening pride, ambition, a desire for love, in the case of Satan, not only love from God but from the multitudes of Heaven itself...You might say he wanted to be the ultimate
